Over the previous decade, gaming has progressed from a solo hobby in which you would play a video game for a few hours and then go about your day to a global phenomenon and vibrant social activity in which you could gather and form new connections in the virtual world.
The tremendous rise in popularity of multiplayer video games has also contributed to this, since everyone wants to play their favorite online game with their pals. Powder uses AI to help gaming content creators clip the greatest shorts from their extended videos. If you’re still looking for the perfect pal to game with, you’re in luck: we’ve come up with nine ways to find your next gaming partner.
Duoo
Duoo is an awesome platform that can help you find new gaming teammates.
Duoo is built to help League of Legends players find perfect duo partners and teammates based on several crucial parameters. These include LoL-specific information such as rank, role and champion, while also including general preferences such as spoken language and player type.
Apart from the traditional LoL ranking system, Duoo allows you to see how good someone is at being a teammate by using a custom rating system. This rating system calculates an overall grade on someone’s profile that’s based on reviews other players left after playing with that person.
One of the best aspects of Duoo is that you don’t have to use the website to make the best out of it as it’s completely Discord integrated. By adding the bot Miko, to one of your servers, you allow the users to use all of Duoo’s functionality without ever leaving Discord.
Matching up with Duoo allows you to effortlessly find gaming friends in only a few clicks.
In-game friendships
The main advantage of adding people you randomly stumble upon in a multiplayer lobby is the fact that you already know you share a common interest in a specific video game. PUBG buddies for life!
We know how players can get frustrated with the unwanted outcomes in some games–and adrenaline often overpowers the urge to acknowledge the talented teammates they’ve encountered along the way. Similarly, adding opposing players is also an anomaly these days as there can be an onset of uncalled “trash talk”.
Even though at the end of some matches you may feel annoyed, you should rise above the competitive nature of some of these games and add people that you’ve enjoyed playing with, regardless of the game’s outcome. Hint: Throwing in a few GGs always helps!
Discord
It should come as no surprise that the most popular voice communication tool for gamers is also one of the best ways to meet new like-minded players.
Discord is separated into themed servers with the majority of those servers acting as vibrant individual communities that allow you to meet many new gamers at once. People can even stream to their communities there. Additionally, these servers often host themed nights and events with the primary focus on user interaction and casual fun among the server’s members.
Discord’s neat interface allows you to interact with the members of the servers directly by messaging them privately or through specific text/voice channels that you can join. The text and voice channels are categorically separated which means that you get to join a cool LFG channel if you’re looking for new teammates. In our Powder server, for example, we have 73K+ members exchanging their daily thoughts and gaming routines.
Last but not least, Discord’s roles are very useful in the process of narrowing down your search as well, making it one of the best apps to find gaming friends that play a specific game you do or play on the same server.
Local game stores and gaming cafes
Unlike the usual methods you’d expect to come across, meeting new players in a social setting is a nice change of pace, especially for gamers who spend the majority of their free time in front of a screen. The biggest selling point of this method is the fact that you get to physically meet people instead of just talking to them over a voice app, which leads to a higher chance of a friendship outside of gaming.
In recent times, game shops and especially gaming cafes have become a places where gamers meet and enjoy playing video games outside of their living rooms. These places aren’t just other places where you can play video games, they’re communities where people forge new friendships over shared hobbies and interests.
Additionally, gaming stores and cafes host local tournaments and events as well, allowing you to interact with complete strangers while playing your favorite video games.
Gaming conventions
Attending gaming conventions is another IRL method of meeting new gaming teammates and it’s an exciting way to find gaming friends that share your passion for gaming. There are hundreds of these events hosted frequently across the globe that create a vibrant atmosphere for the players that are attending.
These gaming conventions provide you with plenty of networking opportunities as the attendees share their experiences, opinions, and strategies in gaming. By participating in workshops, panel discussions, and meet-and-greet sessions, you will find like-minded gaming friends and make connections with new acquaintances.
Read Also: The Importance of Adaptability in Games
They also have extensive expo areas where gaming companies present their latest releases, which is a great opportunity to have a chat and discuss the games with some new friends.
But the best way to make new friends at these conventions is to visit open play zones and lounges. Many of these events have dedicated space for open play where you can jump into games with other friends you meet along the way.
In-built gaming platforms
Since everyone wants to find and play video games with friends, console designers created in-built profiles and communities that connect new potential gaming friends.
Starting with Xbox, Xbox Live allows you to create a Gamertag which is essentially your online ID used to connect with other users of the console. By customizing your profile and adding players to your friends list, you can keep track of players you enjoy gaming with and play with them in the future.
PlayStation, similarly, lets you create a PSN ID while allowing you to customize it with avatars and bios. You can join PS communities that share common interests in games which can help you narrow down your search and find gaming friends.
Another non-console gaming platform worth mentioning is Steam as it’s one of the biggest gaming platforms and providers in the world. Its system lets you easily communicate with your gaming friends and track the games they’re playing in real-time.
Streaming communities
Streaming is a mainstream phenomenon that has surged in popularity in recent years, affecting almost every multiplayer gaming community on the way. It allowed numerous skilled gamers and entertaining personalities to create careers by entertaining their viewers. This has become even more evident now that streamers have ways to earn money streaming games on Twitch. With tools like Powder, streamers can create amazing clips from their streams and post their best moments on socials, which is yet another popular method of finding gaming friends and also potentially earning money.
Apart from providing you with entertainment, you can use the streamer’s chat lobby to interact and talk with other gamers who are watching the stream in real-time. This can lead to some extremely entertaining interactions where you’ll have a lot of fun with random gamers if the stream is enjoyable.
If you find someone you want to get to know better, you can contact them through the streamer’s chat or send them a whisper message. Either way, these small interactions with random players can lead you to a completely new friendship.
Reddit is one of the biggest social media outlets on the planet and it hosts a wide range of gaming-related communities. The best aspect of Reddit is its subreddit system, allowing you to join communities that revolve around certain topics such as a specific video game or gaming in general.
If you’re on an active hunt for people to play with, Reddit is one of the best places to look as there are plenty of subreddits that are specifically designed for finding new teammates such as r/ GamerPals.
Once you’ve found a subreddit where you want to look for players, you can browse the LFG posts or create your own post, allowing players to contact you.
A great aspect of these subreddits is the fact that you can find a large variety of games ranging from popular multiplayer games such as League of Legends to more niche ones such as Civilization V or Starcraft II.
Gaming guilds and clans
Gaming guilds and clans are the beating heart of multiplayer gaming communities and apart from allowing you to meet new players, these groups create a sense of belonging in the digital realm. Given that multiplayer games rely so heavily on teamwork and collaboration, by joining an in-game guild you will hone your communication skills and interact with other players with similar interests.
These types of in-game communities are found in almost every multiplayer game and they encourage players to share strategies, discuss the game, and play with each other. Guilds, clans, and clubs are usually based on a similar passion or characteristic that bonds the members together and the friendships you make in these places often extend beyond the gaming realm.
How to Grow a Video Game Community?
A video game community is a crucial component for communicating with your player base. If you’re successful at growing one, you’re bringing together people who share a shared interest and keeping them engaged in your game.
You can be a part of an industry valued at $65.49 billion if you know how to market it to the appropriate people. Building a strong gaming community allows you to introduce your game to new players while also keeping it alive months or years after its initial release.
If you’re looking for a place to start when it comes to growing your video game community, we’ve got you covered. We’ve gathered together our top seven tips and tricks to help you establish your community as the place to be.
1. Understand Your Target Audience
In order to grow an online gaming community, you need to know where your target audience is. Don’t try to grow a video game community on Instagram if the majority of your players use Twitch. Age, gender, occupation, and other audience demographic data also play a critical role in this.
The best way to address this is to create buyer personas and gather the necessary information that will help you identify your customers and locate where they are. Conduct research on what platforms your players are most often on in order to maximize the potential of your community.
For example, if your game is on Steam, utilize the news and forums to interact with your audience. If players are mostly on Twitter, build up your community there. You can then reward brand advocates with extra access to information or small in-game exclusive items.
2. Stay Active in the Video Game Community
Marketing your game and staying active in your gaming community is vital to its survival. It may be overwhelming to be active and consistently post in your community but it’s important to your players.
While talking with other players about a topic they all love is great, they ultimately want to hear from the game developers. They want to get insider knowledge about the game and hear about upcoming updates.
One great platform to grow an online gaming community is Discord. It’s a great place to continually engage fans for ongoing conversations. Keep in mind that it requires a lot of attention as players are in all time zones and can be very active.
If Slack, email, Skype, and/or any other service are too much for you to focus on, consider getting professional help from a credible video game marketing company like UberStrategist.
Choose the right agency in the gaming industry that provides promotional and social media management services to lift the weight off your shoulders and bring more value to your business. On top of helping with Discord, they can serve as your community manager for all of your social media accounts.
3. Keep Your Video Game Community Engaged With Rewards
You want your gaming community to offer value to whoever joins. If you’re not promoting things your audience finds interesting, they’re not going to want to stay.
Consider the following questions:
- Are you sharing content that gamers want to read?
- What does your gaming community offer them that they can’t find elsewhere?
- Are you providing regular game updates?
- Are you responding to questions, comments, and direct messages?
- Are the posts you create visually appealing with a clear call to action?
Another thing you can offer to your community is in-game rewards. You can use promotional codes on social media to encourage people to share your posts. Be careful not to do it too often — you don’t want people to follow your accounts just for sweepstakes and giveaways.
You can also host community contests where players can create fan art based on your game. You can reward them with in-game items or even gift cards. This is a great way to keep players engaged and show them you’re serious about the community.
4. Partner With Video Game Influencers
Research some up-and-coming video game influencers who regularly play your game or play similar titles. Give them access to new levels, game modes, or other exclusive items that they can showcase on their streams or in videos.
Influencer marketing is known for its efficacy, generating more ROI, and improving the quality of leads.
According to a Medikix report:
- 71% of marketers agree that the quality of leads generated through influencer marketing is better than other marketing initiatives.
- 89% of marketers say influencer marketing ROI is either good or better than other marketing efforts.
- 80% of businesses consider influencer marketing to be effective.
Incorporating video game influencer marketing into your community growth plan will help you reach more audience groups.
While they’re streaming, join in their chats to engage with their community. You can also partner with them to do an exclusive interview while they play the game. This is a great way to put a face to the developer’s name. And you never know, their community may want to join yours after hearing you speak about your game.
Consider your motivations when you begin to build a video game community. Your goal should be to establish a space for like-minded people to speak with one another and become more involved in a game they enjoy. The ordinary gamer rarely responds to traditional marketing methods and is more likely to join an online group.
